Hurt Less Play More - Chiropractic Care Fascial Stretch Therapy

Sunday, August 26, 2012

Why is Fascial Stretch Therapy (FST) more effective than traditional stretching?Unlike stretching that attempts to isolate and stretch specific muscles, fascial stretch therapy (FST) targets fascia, the connective tissue found in, around, and between joints. To stretch the fascia, a certified FST therapist gently pulls then moves the legs, arms, spine, and neck in a smooth motion at various angles to remove pressure between joints, release joint-lubricating synovial fluid, and improve flexibility of muscles. "The function of muscles cannot be separated from the movement of fascia," says Ann Frederick, founder/developer.

UPSIDES: "Runners tell us that after the first FST session they move with more ease and feel stronger and faster," Frederick says. Runners using FST also report increased stride length, less pain and tightness, and faster recovery.

DOWNSIDES: You can't do the initial session on your own. The at-home stretches can take some time to master.

One of the reasons FST is so unique is because of its affect on the nervous system. It allows the client to relax using modified PNF (contract-release) which brings the body into a parasympathetic state allowing the tissue to release without pain or effort. Applying PNF builds strength in the fascia and muscle from a "core" level and begins the process of retraining the tissue to "fire" properly. One of the fastest ways to release a muscle is to contract it ( 3 to 5 contractions should release a muscle within 15 seconds compared to traditional methods of holding a stretch which takes 3 minutes).

Stretching fascia and muscle creates a permanent change in the tissue which you can feel immediately and with each session feel longer lasting results. By stretching fascia and the muscle, you are able to stretch more tissue in a shorter period of time as opposed to performing traditional stretching (muscle by muscle) which can be painful, time consuming and marginally effective.

What is fascia?

• Fascia is connective tissue. It connects muscle to muscle and muscle to bone. The body is integrated with fascia much like a spider web - continuous and connected throughout the structure.

• Fascia is the most prevalent tissue in the body, yet it is sometimes the least understood.

• The health and function of all joints and muscles are a direct result of the condition of your fascia.

Dr. John Vigil was the first certified Fascial Stretch Therapist in Nevada and is currently the Only Chiropractor Doctor performing FST sessions. Dr. John's clients include professional UFC/MMA fighters, tennis, ultra-runners, and entertainment professionals in the dance/acrobat and stage shows as well as many recreational athletes in all sports.

TRX Suspension Training requires the use of the TRX® Suspension Trainer™, a highly portable performance training tool that leverages gravity and the user’s bodyweight to enable hundreds of exercises that can be instantly scaled for any user to reach any fitness or training goal. The easily scalable nature of TRX Suspension Training makes it a practical solution wherever you are on the fitness continuum.

VECTOR RESISTANCE PRINCIPLEFor most standing movements, positioning your feet closer to the anchor point will increase resistance and heighten the challenge. Stepping farther away from the anchor point will decrease resistance and make movements easier to execute.

PENDULUM PRINCIPLEFor ground-based movements, moving your feet away from the anchor point will increase resistance and heighten the challenge. Moving your feet towards the anchor point or behind the anchor point will decrease resistance and make movements easier to execute.

STABILITY PRINCIPLEIn general, performing movements with a narrower base of support or unilaterally (using just one arm or just one leg instead of both arms or both legs) will increase the challenge of TRX movements. The wider your base of support, the more stable you will be during TRX movements and the less challenging they will be to perform.

About Me

Dr. John is the Only Las Vegas Chiropractor that offers Fascial Stretch Therapy™. Working with all aspects of clients that are under pain from different every day life situations; work, stress, and sports injuries that result from over use syndromes.